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William Rolleston
Federated Farmers president, William Rolleston has been elected vice president of the World Farmers Organisation (WFO) while attending its General Assembly in Milan.
The WFO aims to bring together all the national producers and farm cooperative organisations with the objective of developing policies, which favour and support farmers' causes in developed and developing countries around the world.
“I am delighted and incredibly humbled to be elected into this role,” says Rolleston.
“The World Farmers Organisation is a growing voice on the international stage so it is important in this context that New Zealand’s views continue to be heard.”
Federated Farmers say Rolleston’s election reflects the high regard with which New Zealand is held in international discussions, particularly on trade.
“Farmers across the world face many of the same challenges in the vagaries of the climate, the requirement to feed a growing population while reducing our environmental footprint, remain profitable in light of international regulation as well as ensuring we have access to modern technology.” Rolleston adds.
“We’ve taken a leadership role in New Zealand, in the formation of the Global Research Alliance and its work on climate change. The Alliance works with the World Farmers Organisation in serving the interests of farmers across the world and plays a pivotal role in improving the global footprint of agriculture’s greenhouse gases.”
As vice president, Rolleston will be in a pivotal role in advocating on behalf of farmers and representing their interests in international policy forums. WFO supports farmers in better managing extreme price volatility, leveraging market opportunities, and timely access to market information.
Rolleston’s has a long list of credentials in both the farming and biological industries such as, founding shareholder and director of South Pacific Sera (a pharmaceutical contract manufacturer and recognised as the world's premiere source of animal derived bio-reagents), which operates in conjunction with the family farming property in South Canterbury. He is also a member of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Science Board and past chair of its Innovation Board. In 2009, Rolleston was made Distinguished Biotechnologist of the Year for services to the biotechnology industry.
“I look forward to playing both a national and international role in facing the emerging challenges for agriculture, such as climate change, generational renewal, and gender equality. The latter the World Farmers Organisation is leading by example, appointing Evelyn Nguleka as the new president.” Says Rolleston.
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